Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39858839›Full record

ArticleMicroorganisms2025

Infection-Related Stillbirths: A Detailed Examination of a Nine-Year Multidisciplinary Study.

Liliana Gabrielli, Matteo Pavoni, Francesca Monari, Federico Baiesi Pillastrini, Maria Paola Bonasoni, Chiara Locatelli, Maria Bisulli, Alessandra Vancini, Ilaria Cataneo, Margherita Ortalli and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Microorganisms, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Liliana GabrielliMicrobiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5994-4749
Matteo PavoniMicrobiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2532-8323
Francesca MonariUnit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mother-Infant Department, University of Modena and Reggio-Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy.
Federico Baiesi PillastriniMicrobiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Maria Paola BonasoniPathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio-Emilia, Italy.
Chiara LocatelliNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Maria BisulliObstetric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Alessandra VanciniNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maggiore Hospital, 40133 Bologna, Italy.
Ilaria CataneoUnit of Obstetrics, Maggiore "C.A. Pizzardi" Hospital, AUSL, 40133 Bologna, Italy.
Margherita OrtalliMicrobiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5447-8817
Giulia PiccirilliMicrobiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2596-2367
Alessia CantianiMicrobiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Simone AmbrettiMicrobiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8358-339X
Fabio FacchinettiUnit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mother-Infant Department, University of Modena and Reggio-Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4694-9564
Tiziana LazzarottoMicrobiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3093-363X

Funding

NextGenerationEU-MUR PNRR PE00000007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough several conditions and specific risk factors have been associated with stillbirth (SB), in most of the cases it is difficult to identify the definitive etiopathology and cause of death. Specifically, the role of infections in SB is still debated. Our aim was to study maternal, placental, and fetal tissues in cases of SB in order to define the causative link between infections and fetal death, through a multidisciplinary clinical audit.

methodsBetween 2014 and 2022, microbiological investigations on maternal, placental and fetal samples of SB cases were performed according to a standardized protocol including serology, cultures, and molecular biology. Autopsies and placental examination were mandatory in all SB cases.

resultsA total of 182 cases of SB were investigated. Bacteria were detected in 22.2% of vaginal swabs, 65% of placental biopsies, 29% of fetal blood, and 14.1% of oropharyngeal swabs. Vaginal and oropharyngeal swabs were positive for urogenital mycoplasmas in 25.2% and 8.6%, respectively. Positive results of microbiological investigations, in association with histological features suggestive of infection, were observed in six cases, indicating that fetal death was likely related to a bacterial infection. In one case, a high SARS-CoV-2 load was found in the placenta of a SB due to placental abruption.

conclusionsInfections were likely associated with fetal death in 3.8% of cases. Thus, in developed countries, an infection, defined when positive microbiological findings are associated with histological evidence of organ damage, is a minor contributory factor in SB.

Indexed as

chorioamnionitishistologyinfectionmultidisciplinary auditstillbirth

Identifiers

PMID39858839
PMCPMC11767843

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.